Bridgeport CA Trout Season Opener 2025

[CI_Seawolf]

After a few days of working on my boat, Trout season opener (aka Fishmas) was last Saturday.  We have been having a mild spring this year in the Eastern Sierra, with warm temperatures.  I had splurged on a new 30 hp Tohatsu 4 stroke outboard last fall to replace my venerable 30 hp Evinrude that didn't have an electric start.  I am getting too old to pull start the beast.  Using PVC conduit, I routed new cable from the bow seat where the battery is to the motor at the stern.  I added some courtesy light circuits and a bilge pump to the boat too.  It took several days to get the conduits and wiring done. 

I have done season opener several times at Bridgeport Reservoir.  It has a tendency to produce quality trout, especially some nice Browns in the early season.

Headed up to Bridgeport Friday afternoon, weather report was threatening, forecast called for a 40% chance of snow Saturday morning.  Unable to sleep the night before with anticipation of good fishing, I peered out the window of the hotel room at 4 am.  Snow falling and starting to stick on the roads.  At my prescribed get up at 4:30 am for early launching, it was blizzard conditions.  I went back to sleep until 6 am.  Still snowing, ugh!   About 6" of snow on the roads and I knew that my boat would be full of snow.   Had breakfast, got a shower, and hoped for better visibility.  Scooped all the snow I could out of the boat at 9:00.

I had rigged my rods the night before, so I loaded up my gear and headed to the ramp, still snowing.  I had my heavy Grundens foul weather gear with a warm fleece jacket underneath, so I was pretty comfortable.  Water conditions at the ramp were low, had to get the trailer pretty far out in the lake bed to launch.  Trying to keep from getting wet, I slipped and the bow line of the boat slipped out of my hands.  There she went, drifting out away from me.... How embarrassing!
Fortunately, there were several boats out fishing very close to the ramp.  After shouting, a small boat with 3 guys in it came to my rescue and brought my boat to me.  I tried to give them some money, but they refused.  We wished each other good luck , I got in and was able to push the starter button.  She started right up and I was on my way.  Still snowing, I started trolling some bigger sized plugs and had set myself up in case of a whopper with a long piece of 15 lb Flourocarbon,  normally I don't fish anything that heavy in the Sierras.

First fish hit a Pointer, a nice sized rainbow, about 3 lbs.  Released it and continued trolling in the snow. Second fish hit a Rogue, a nice Brown about 2 1/2 lbs.  as I wind the other lure in after releasing the Brown, I get hit on the wind by a Rainbow. It continued to snow, finally stopped snowing and cleared a bit at about 1:30-2:00.  I changed to smaller lures , and put a spoon on my hybrid leadcore setup.  Instant Rainbow! A hefty one about 4 lbs, more strikes and misses, ended up the day with 11 trout boated.  Got several nice Browns too.  Getting the boat back on the trailer was a challenge, ended up taking a ton of time and getting soaking boots and cold wet feet.  Still an epic day even with that late start.  Followed up on Sunday with a 9:00 launch, got a limit of 5 by 12:30, all Rainbows to 2 lbs.  One took the lure deep and I had to kill it, It will be lunch for the wife and I this week.   

[foakes]

Thanks for the report, CL —-

Since '74, I have done more openers in Bridgeport than not.

Generally needed to drive through Tahoe or Tehachapi to Bishop, and then further North to Bridgeport —- since Tioga Pass and Sonora Pass were never open as early as the trout opener.

Didn't go this year due to other commitments and bad weather.

Knew most everyone in town.

Always stayed at Slick's Court with the Bryant's.  They are all passed on now, and it is the Silver Maple.  More recently, we have stayed at Paradise Shores with the camper and boat.

Fished and backpacked all over the area between Rock Creek Lake and North to as far as Topaz, Twins, Hunniwell, Tamarack, Lobdell, Anna, Virginias, Lundy, Leavitt, Convict, and many other places.  Know it very well.  The Reservoir was always my favorite though.  Fished Rainbow, and areas where the Walker, Buckeye, and Robinson flowed into the reservoir.

When I used to fly, I would just fly up the San Joaquin river to just North of Mammoth, then bear North across Mono Lake and land at Bryant's Field at Bridgeport, then just stay at Slick's Court and rent a boat at the original marina.  Only took 40 minutes to pop over the Sierras in a 182, climbing to 12,000' —- then landing at Bryant Field which is about 6500'

Some of the best times and memories of my life have been at Bridgeport.  Talked to the guys at Ken's Sporting Goods this morning.  They reported exactly what you reported. Mostly limits of 3-4 pound Rainbows, with some Browns in the 5-6 pound range.  No monster browns out of the Twins, but they expect them to become active very soon.  Trollers did well, and bank anglers didn't do quite as well —- but fish were caught by everyone.

Thanks again for the report!

Best, Fred

[CI_Seawolf]

Fred, I started going up to Bridgeport for opener around the same time, my dad and great uncle used to let me tag along with them.  We fished Robinson Creek in those days.   Both men are long since passed, but the area has special memories for me.  Over the years, I have seen some interesting aircraft at Bryant Field, including an A1 Skyraider.  Fun to talk to someone that has actually flown in there.  Thanks for sharing your memories with us.


Kind regards,  Tom